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Updated: May 15, 2026

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Commentary on special section: deficit or difference? Interpreting diverse developmental paths
Maureen Callanan1, Sandra Waxman
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Social Sciences 2, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA. callanan@ucsc.edu
Abstract:
In this special section, 6 articles address the provocative question of how to determine the boundary between difference and deficiency, for children who differ from the mainstream in some way--language, hearing, cultural background, socioeconomic status, or social understanding. Our commentary considers these articles in light of current models of cultural diversity, raising 4 warning signals about the danger of assuming deficits. Whereas children's school success is understandably a concern, we must be cautious about the known harmful effects of negative labeling and deficit assumptions.
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